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Oklahoma City tunnel ownership question resurfaces

The question of who owns downtown's underground pedestrian tunnels is once again becoming an issue as Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. is spending more than $24,000 to repair damage caused by flooding that occurred during a torrential May 31st storm.

The question of who owns downtown's underground pedestrian tunnels is once again becoming an issue as Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. is spending more than $24,000 to repair flooding damage that occurred during a torrential May 31st storm.

Pedestrians walk through the red tunnel of the Underground, which connects to the County Office Building to two nearby parking garages. This area is where officials think water began to flood the tunnels during the May 31st storm. Steve Gooch

The water was pumped out within a day of the storm. Most of the repairs are being covered by the business improvement district, which is operated by the organization. But its staff also was surprised to learn this past month that such damage is not insured.

“It's not clear who owns The Underground,” said A.J. Kirkpatrick, director of operations at Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. “That's the response I get talking to a lot of people.”

Such confusion isn't new, even though the tunnels are used daily by thousands of downtown workers who go underground during inclement weather or extreme heat.

The tunnels' origins

The tunnels were built in the 1970s under the guidance of Jack Conn, chief executive officer of Fidelity Bank.

Conn and other major civic leaders worked out an agreement. Fifteen major property owners whose buildings connected to the tunnels agreed to pay for the system's maintenance and operation. Revocable permits were issued by the city to the Oklahoma Industrial Authority to build the system.

The agreement worked until the 25-year contracts and permits expired in 1998. At that point those who backed the creation of the tunnels, and most of the institutions they represented, had disappeared during the 1980s oil bust.

To make matters more confusing, portions of the tunnels cross under buildings and are owned by those property owners. Other portions of the tunnels pass under city, county and federal properties.

A couple of the tunnels, most notably one that crosses under Hudson Avenue and connects to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, were never finished and opened.

Some representatives of the Conncourse Association argued the tunnels were owned by the city and it was obligated to take them over. Then Mayor Kirk Humphreys denied responsibility.

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Steve Lackmeyer is a reporter and columnist who started his career at The Oklahoman in 1990. Since then, he has won numerous awards for his coverage, which included the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the city's Metropolitan...

The Underground tunnels faced closure twice last time the ownership question was raised.

The first segment of The Underground dates back to 1931, when hotelier W.B. Skirvin built an underground connection beneath Broadway to link the Skirvin Hotel and what was then the Skirvin Tower, now the 101 Park Avenue building.

Jack Conn, chairman of Fidelity Bank, and Dean A. McGee, chairman of Kerr-McGee, led development of the tunnel system in the 1970s. Under Conn's leadership, the tunnels were expanded into a half-mile system that spans an area between NW 4, Sheridan Avenue, Broadway and Hudson Avenue.

Construction on the expansion started in 1972, and continued through 1984 when the last connection was built into Leadership Square.

Closing the system became a possibility in 1998 when an original operating agreement between the property owners and the Oklahoma Industries Authority expired. Closing also was discussed in 1999 when it appeared not enough funds were pledged to keep it open.

The tunnel's ongoing operations and immediate repair needs appeared to be settled when they were taken over by the downtown business improvement district in 2001.

It's not clear who owns The Underground. That's the response I get talking to a lot of people.”

A.J. Kirkpatrick,Director of operations at Downtown Oklahoma City Inc.